s himself on making no profession, and yet being as
consistent as those that do. If such persons do not rejoice in iniquity,
it is nevertheless "sweet in their mouth," and they "drink it in like
water." Their plea is, that they do not speak of it with pleasure, but
with grief bear their testimony against it. But grief is a very
different passion from that which swells in their bosoms. Grief is
solitary and silent. "He sitteth alone and keepeth silence." Who ever
heard of a man's proclaiming his grief to every passing stranger? Yet,
you may not be five minutes in the company of one of these persons, till
he begins to proclaim his grief at the delinquencies of his Christian
brethren. And the harsh and bitter spirit, which palms itself on the
conscience as a testimony against sin, is but an exhibition of
impenitent pride. It bears not the most distant semblance of Christian
humility and fidelity. "Brethren," says the apostle, "if a man be
overtaken in a fault, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;
_considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted._" But, from the
fault-finding and censorious spirit of some people, one would suppose it
never came into their minds to consider whether it might not be possible
for them to fall into the same condemnation; although an examination of
the lamentable falls that have taken place might show a fearful list of
delinquents from this class of persons. David, while in his fallen
state, pronounced sentence of death upon the man in Nathan's parable,
whose crime was but a faint shadow of his own. The Scribes and Pharisees
were indignant at the wretched woman who had been taken in sin; yet they
afterwards, by their own conduct, confessed themselves guilty of the
same crime. Judas was one of your censorious fault-finders. He was the
one that found fault with the tender-hearted Mary, for her affectionate
tribute of respect to the Lord of Life, before his passion. He thought
it a great waste to pour such costly ointment on the feet of Jesus; and
that it would have been much better to have sold it and given the money
to the poor. He was very compassionate to the poor, and a great enemy of
extravagance; but a little while afterwards, he sold his Lord for thirty
pieces of silver. So, in every age, if you examine into the character of
apostates, you will find that they have been noted for their severity
against the sins of others; and particularly in making conscience of
things indifferent, and